Clothes iron rest for ironing boards

ABSTRACT

A clothes ironing rest including a platform for a clothes iron having means for at least partially restricting movement of the iron on the platform, and means for mounting the platform above and substantially parallel to an ironing surface such that the platform is movable in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ironing surface. The clothes iron rest is useful in domestic and commercial clothes ironing operations.

United States Patent 1 Bilbao June 19, 1973 CLOTHES IRON REST FOR IRONING BOARDS [76] Inventor: Francisco Bilbao, 5501 SW. 6 St.,

Miami, Fla. 33134 22 Filed: June 30,1971

21 Appl. No.: 158,211

[52] U.S. Cl. 38/107, 248/1172 [51] Int. Cl. D06f 81/00 [58] Field of Search 38/107, 106;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,666,999 l/1954 Brandt 38/107 3,438,605 4/1969 Tashjian... 248/ll7.l

2,723,097 11/1955 Tyler 248/ll7.l

1,455,026 5/1923 Jorgensen et a1. 248/1176 3,052,439 9/1962 Marx 248/1172 2,900,748 8/1959 Magee 248/1l7.1 X

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 131,385 4/1951 Sweden 38/107 Primary ExaminerGeo. V. Larkin Attorney-Beveridge & De Grandi [57] ABSTRACT A clothes ironing rest including a platform for a clothes iron having means for at least partially restricting movement of the iron on the platform, and means for mounting the platform above and substantially parallel to an ironing surface such that the platform is movable in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ironing surface. The clothes iron rest is useful in domestic and commercial clothes ironing operations.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PAIENIEfiJun a saw R 0 N E v N FRANCISCO BILBM CLUTlhllEfi IRON REST FOR IRONING BOARDS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to apparatus for ironing clothing and fabrics. More particularly, this invention relates to a clothes iron rest which can be movably mounted on an ironing surface, such as a portable ironing board.

Clothes ironing boards and irons have been used for many years. Ironing boards heretofore known have been provided with a clothes iron rest attached at one location on the board.

These clothes iron rests are disadvantageous because a clothes iron left on the rest is easily knocked off by a slight tipping of the ironing surface. More importantly, these ironing rests are secured in one position on the ironing board, thus requiring the operator to reach out each time the iron is removed or replaced on the rest. When ironing for a considerable period of time, much effort is wasted by these reaching movements. Furthermore, when the ironing surface is large the op erator is required to stretch to reach the clothes iron rest. These stretching movements present a potential safety hazard.

Thus, there has been a need for a clothes rest which would reduce the physical effort required of an opera tor, while improving the safety of the ironing operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to this invention there is provided a clothes iron rest including a platform for a clothes iron having meansfor at least partially restricting movement of an iron on the platform, and means for mounting the platform above and substantially parallel to an ironing surface such that the platform is movable in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ironing surface.

Because the clothes iron rest of this invention can be movably mounted on an ironing surface, the physical effort required by an operator is considerably reduced. Furthermore, the clothes iron rest of this invention is provided with means for at least partially restricting movement of an iron placed on the rest, thereby reducing the likelihood that an iron will be knocked off the rest when the ironing board is slightly tipped.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS board having mounted thereon the ironing rest of this invention and a typical clothes iron device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF TIHE INVENTION The device of this invention is applicable to clothes ironing operations generally, in which a clothes iron I and ironing surface are used. The clothes iron is of a type commonly known in the art, and is also referred to as a flatiron or sadiron. The ironing surface is typically a board which can be portable or permanently installed in a particular location. The device of this invention can be adapted to an ironing surface of the size and configuration commonly used in domestic and industrial ironing operations.

Referring to FIG. ll, an ironing board I having an ironing surface 2 is provided with a clothes iron rest 4 of this invention. The clothes iron rest 4 includes a platform 5 having means 6 for at least partially restricting movement of an iron placed on the platform.

The platform 5 is a substantially rectangular frame having rounded corners 7 and 8.. Interposed between two opposing sides of the frame are rods or bars 9 which are in spaced relation to each other.

The platform 5 is positioned above and substantially parallel to the ironing surface 2 of ironing board 1. A clothes iron can be placed on rods 9 which comprise platform 5. Excess heat from the clothes iron is allowed to dissipate through the open spaces between the rods or bars 9. Heat is further dissipated through the open space lit) between platform 5 and ironing surface 2 as shown in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 1, the means for at least partially restricting movement of an iron placed on the platform consists of a barrier fixedly secured to the outer edges of three sides of the frame. The barrier 6 extends above the platform 5 and is substantially perpendicular to the platform. Barrier 6 is typically a. metal or plastic bar which can be easily bent to fit the shape of the frame. Barrier 6 can optionally be provided with holes 11 and 12 through which a band, strap, or spring can be passed in order to secure an iron to the platform for storage. Use of a spring 43 with an iron 44 in the manner described can be seen in FIG. 4. The dimension and configuration of barrier 6 will determine the extent to which movement of an iron placed on platform 5 is re stricted. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the dimension of barrier 6 perpendicular to platform 5 can be varied to suit the particular application. Similarly, the dimensions of platform 5 can be varied.

The device of this invention also includes means for mounting the platform 5 above ironing surface 2 such that the platform is movable in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis L-L of ironing board 1. The clothes iron rest is so mounted that it is movable in either direction along an axis L--L. It will be apparent from FIG. 1 that the mounting means includes two channels 13 and Id. Referring to FIG. 3, each channel has legs, such- 1 as 15 and 16, which form an opening, such as 17. Each channel is removably mounted such as 'by fasteners or adhesives, on an outer-edge of the ironing board, such as III and M in FIG. 3. The outer edges are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis L-L of ironing board 11, although those skilled in the art will recognize that the channels can be permanently secured to the board.

Sliding means movable in each of the channels is depicted in FIG. 2. The sliding means is typically at least one wheel or roller movable in the channel. In FIG. 2, channel M is shown mounted on the outer edge of ironing board 1. Movably mounted in opening 17 are two wheels I8 and 19. These wheels are joined by bar 20 through axels 21 and 22. The legs 15 and 16 of channel 14 restrain the lateral movement of wheels 18 and 19. Wheels I8 and I9 are thereby restricted to movement along a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of board 1. The sliding means depicted in FIG. 2 are preferably removably attached to the platform 5. As seen in FIG. 1, this can be conveniently accomplished by means of brackets 23 and 24, each of which is provided with a bolt and wing nut, such as 25, for quick removal, adjustment or assembly. Each bracket is secured to the platform such as by fasteners 26 and 27 or other suitable means. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the sliding means can be permanently attached to platform 5.

In FIG. 1 the clothes iron rest 4 of this invention is shown in combination with a portable ironing board 1. The board has a bottom edge 28 which is substantially perpendicular to both the ironing surface 2 and the longitudinal axis L--L of the board. When such an ironing board is used, it is preferable that each channel be bent, such as at 29 and 30, and extended to cover at least a portion of bottom edge 28. The channels can be removably fastened together by fasteners 31 and 32 and bar 33. Bar 33 is preferably provided with at least one slot 34 which permits positioning the bar relative to a fastener and a hole (not shown) in either channel. Use of the bar and fastener arrangement described permits the adjustment of the channels to any size ironing board, and provides a means for more securely fastening the channels to the board.

In FIG. 4 there is depicted an ironing board commonly used domestically. The board has folding legs 35 and 36 and is shown in an upright position suitable for storage. It is apparent from the figure that the clothes iron rest 4 of this invention provides a suitable base on which an iron 44 can be mounted for storage.

It is apparent that the clothes iron rest of this invention has numerous advantages. For example, the rest is easy to fabricate using inexpensive materials. The rest can be adapted to fit most ironing boards used domestically and commercially. It can be fabricated for sale and installation on an ironing board by the purchaser, or it can be sold as an integral part of an ironing board. For example, the channels shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 can be grooves cut into the edges 40 and 41 of ironing board 1. Since the clothes iron rest is movably mounted on the ironing board, the physical effort required by an operator while ironing is reduced. Furthermore, the iron rest of this invention is safer to use than those heretofore known, since movement of an iron on the rest is restricted. The device of this invention has the further advantage in that a clothes iron can be fastened to the rest for convenient storage with a portable ironing board.

I claim:

1. A clothes iron rest adapted to be connected to an ironing board, said rest including a platform for a clothes iron, said platform including a substantially rectangular frame having interposed between any two opposing sides of the frame a plurality of rods or bars in spaced relation to each other, the space between any two adjacent rods or bars being open to permit dissipation of excess heat when the hot clothes iron rests on the platform,

a barrier fixedly secured to outer edges of the sides of said frame and extending only above and perpendicular to the platform, said barrier being provided with openings to attach securing means for securing a clothes iron in place when said platform is connected to an ironing board and when the platform and ironing board are in an upright position for storage,

channel means associated with said platform and adapted for mounting the platform above and substantially parallel to an ironing board surface,

said channel means being adapted for being removably mounted on outer edges of an ironing board and having legs which form an opening facing outwardly from the edge of an ironing board when the channels are mounted on an ironing board,

sliding means removably attached to said platform and adapted to engage the open side of said channel means, whereby the platform having sliding means attached thereto is movable in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the ironing board for substantially the entire length of said channel means and is movable without restriction over a substantial portion of the ironing board past the bottom edge of the ironing board, when said platform and channel means are mounted on an ironing board.

2. A clothes iron rest in combination with a portable ironing board comprising a platform including a substantially rectangular frame having interposed between any two opposing sides of the frame a plurality of rods or bars in spaced relation to each other,

the space between any two adjacent rods or bars being open to permit dissipation of excess heat when the hot clothes iron rests on the platform,

means for at least partially restricting movement of an iron on the platform, and which is a barrier fixedly secured to the outer edge of the sides of said frame and extending only above and perpendicular to the platform, said barrier having openings therein for securing means to secure the clothes iron on said platform when the platform in combination with the ironing board is in a vertical position for storage,

channel means adapted for mounting the platform above and substantially parallel to the ironing surface of the ironing board,

sliding means being removably and adjustably connected to said platform and being adapted for insertion into said channel means, said sliding means being capable of traveling the major length of said channel means,

said channel means being removably and adjustably mounted to outer edges of the ironing board and said edges being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ironing board and substantially perpendicular to the platform, each channel having legs which form an opening facing outwardly from the edge of the ironing board and adapted for receiving said sliding means,

said ironing board having a bottom edge substantially perpendicular to the platform and the longitudinal axis of the ironing surface, wherein said channel means extends to at least a portion of this edge,

the platform being adjustably connected to said sliding means and being movable in an unrestricted manner in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ironing board, and in a direction away from said bottom edge of the ironing board and over a substantial portion of the ironing board.

* w e s 

1. A clothes iron rest adapted to be connected to an ironing board, said rest including a platform for a clothes iron, said platform including a substantially rectangular frame having interposed between any two opposing sides of the frame a plurality of rods or bars in spaced relation to each other, the space between any two adjacent rods or bars being open to permit dissipation of excess heat when the hot clothes iron rests on the platform, a barrier fixedly secured to outer edges of the sides of said frame and extending only above and perpendicular to the platform, said barrier being provided with openings to attach securing means for securing a clothes iron in place when said platform is connected to an ironing board and when the platform and ironing board are in an upright position for storage, channel means associated with said platform and adapted for mounting the platform above and substantially parallel to an ironing board surface, said channel means being adapted for being removably mounted on outer edges of an ironing board and having legs which form an opening facing outwardly from the edge of an ironing board when the channels are mounted on an ironing board, sliding means removably attached to said platform and adapted to engage the open side of said channel means, whereby the platform having sliding means attached thereto is movable in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the ironing board for substantially the entire length of said channel means and is movable without restriction over a substantial portion of the ironing board past the bottom edge of the ironing board, when said platform and channel means are mounted on an ironing board.
 2. A clothes iron rest in combination with a portable ironing board comprising a platform including a Substantially rectangular frame having interposed between any two opposing sides of the frame a plurality of rods or bars in spaced relation to each other, the space between any two adjacent rods or bars being open to permit dissipation of excess heat when the hot clothes iron rests on the platform, means for at least partially restricting movement of an iron on the platform, and which is a barrier fixedly secured to the outer edge of the sides of said frame and extending only above and perpendicular to the platform, said barrier having openings therein for securing means to secure the clothes iron on said platform when the platform in combination with the ironing board is in a vertical position for storage, channel means adapted for mounting the platform above and substantially parallel to the ironing surface of the ironing board, sliding means being removably and adjustably connected to said platform and being adapted for insertion into said channel means, said sliding means being capable of traveling the major length of said channel means, said channel means being removably and adjustably mounted to outer edges of the ironing board and said edges being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ironing board and substantially perpendicular to the platform, each channel having legs which form an opening facing outwardly from the edge of the ironing board and adapted for receiving said sliding means, said ironing board having a bottom edge substantially perpendicular to the platform and the longitudinal axis of the ironing surface, wherein said channel means extends to at least a portion of this edge, the platform being adjustably connected to said sliding means and being movable in an unrestricted manner in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ironing board, and in a direction away from said bottom edge of the ironing board and over a substantial portion of the ironing board. 